The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said it received 159 distress alerts on COSPAS-SARSAT satellite search and rescue system at the Nigerian Mission Control Centre in 2021.
The Director General NEMA, Mr. Mustapha Habib, made the disclosure during a one-day sensitization and awareness forum of COSPAS-SARSAT beacon users in Nigeria in Kano.
The training had the theme: “Keeping Abreast with Emerging Technology”
Habib, represented by Deputy Director, Search and Rescue, NEMA, Mr. Ishaya Chinoko, said out of the 159 distress alerts, 158 were false.
He said the sensitization was to keep major Stakeholders, especially those in disaster management abreast of emerging technologies of the 406MHz radio beacons of the COSPAS-SARSAT Satellite- Aided Search and Rescue system in Nigeria.
According to him, the sensitization is aimed at informing stakeholders of the need to use beacons in aircraft or ships to track locations and enhanced disaster preparedness in the country and save lives.
He also noted that the essence of search and rescue, particularly in technology, with the use of emerging technology of any happenings in aviation or maritime or as individuals is to avoid future losses of lives and property when such emergencies occur.
“The only real alert happened to be the ill-fated air crash of the Nigeran Airforce BEECHCRAFT near the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on Feb.21, 2021 which had serviceable Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) beacons.
“There were 3 other air crashes within our airspace which were undetected by COSPAS SARSAT due to unserviceable beacons onboard in the same year.
“These undetected crashes include the NAF 475 aircraft which went off RADAR in Borno State March 31, 2021, and the NAF BEECHCRAFT which conveyed the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Ibrahim Attahiru and 10 other military personnel from Abuja to Kaduna on May 21, 2021.
Others include NAF Alpha Jet which was brought down by suspected enemy fire between the boundary of Zamfara and Kaduna State on 18 July 18, 2021” Habib said.
He further explained that either these aircrafts were not carrying the required ELT beacons or the beacons onboard were not serviceable or operational.
On his part, Head of Mission Control Centre, NEMA, Capt. Vandi Delia, said the Centre received over 20 disaster response that have assisted Nigeria positively through the use of technology from 2003 to date.
“Nigeria became a member of COSPAS-SARSAT in 2003, which has reduced the pine in tracking any distress in the aviation and maritime industries.”
Also speaking, the Chief Technical Officer, Mission Control Centre, NEMA, Mr. Emmanuel Ogba, presented a paper on “overview of COSPAS-SARSAT System.
“COSPAS-SARSAT is used in search and rescue information whenever there is air crash or ship break providing they are having distress beacons on autonomous tracking and return link system”
Justice Watch news reports that officials of NEMA, NCAA, NAMA, NIMASA, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Airforce and NSCDC were among the participants.
